Calls for inquiry into TCCI finances

Tasmania's main business lobby has rejected calls for an independent watchdog to scrutinise its finances.

The credibility of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is being questioned after it revealed an $800,000 hole in its accounts for this financial year.

The chamber is blaming financial anomalies, undisclosed transactions and unpaid membership fees for the missing funds.

The shortfall was first noticed by the new Chief Executive Officer, Neil MacKinnon.

Mr MacKinnon says his findings were given to an independent auditor who confirmed his figures.

"I don't see that there is any way that the TCCI could be accused of sweeping this under the carpet because we were the ones that raised it at the earliest possible opportunity," he said.

But Chris Brown from the Health Services Union, which has been the subject of a Fair Work Australia investigation says that should not be the end of the matter."I think there needs to be some sort of external examination of that just to confirm that what the internal investigation has found is in fact correct."

Mr MacKinnon says a third review is unnecessary.

"Two investigations have been done. They have come to broadly the same conclusion."

The chamber has flagged selling its real estate assets to recover the lost money.

Mr MacKinnon says the chamber is anticipating some members will leave, with several coming forward asking for an explanation.

The Liberal's Rene Hidding says it is not a good look.

"Any organisation that has got to go out and admit it made mistakes like that suffers a dent to its credibility," he said.

But Mr Hidding believes it will not have a terminal impact on the organisation.

Chamber chairman Troy Harper admits the loss will make it difficult to comment about Government decisions.

He says while the losses stem from misconduct, there have been no illegal actions.

The TCCI has received almost $900,000 in grants from the Department of Economic Development over the past two financial years.